BY: Amin Ajani

Tag: KEVIN OWENS

Last night’s episode of Smackdown Live revolved around the continuation of the “Superstar Shakeup” as 3,105,000 million viewers tuned into Smackdown Live on the USA Network. Last night’s episode was up by eight percent compared to last week’s post-WrestleMania edition of Smackdown Live.

Last night’s episode of Smackdown Live was the most highest Smackdown episode since last year’s WWE Draft special show which averaged 3,170,000 million viewers.

The following WWE superstars made their way over from Monday Night Raw to Smackdown Live following night two of the “Superstar Shakeup”

Also on Smackdown Live we got to see a terrific main event which featured A.J. Styles defeating Sami Zayn and Baron Corbin in a triple-threat match to become the number 1 contender for Kevin Owens United States Championship.

Kevin Owens will face Chris Jericho for the WWE United States Championship at WWE Payback and the winner be on Smackdown Live.

We also found out on Smackdown Live that Shinsuke Nakamura’s first WWE main roster program will be against Dolph Ziggler.

We also know that Smackdown’s Randy Orton will defend the WWE Championship against Raw’s Bray Wyatt in a ‘House of Horror’ match at WWE Payback.

So this leaves the WWE title picture on Smackdown is in holding pattern for the time being. If Orton wins it will be interesting to see who he defends the WWE championship against with Styles involved in a feud with Owens for the time being. If Wyatt wins this could open the doors to Brock Lesnar bringing the WWE Universal Championship over to Smackdown Live.

Below is my coverage from the continuing coverage of the WWE Superstar Shakeup which took place tonight on Smackdown Live from Boston.

Smackdown Live kicked off with the WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens who announced that he has joined Smackdown Live.

Owens was interrupted by Baron Corbin, and soon after by Sami Zayn who also announced that he has joined Smackdown Live.

Smackdown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan announced that the winner of the WWE United States Championship match between Owens and Chris Jericho at WWE Payback will defend the US title on Smackdown Live.

After the Usos defeated the American Alpa to retain the Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions, The Shining Stars came from the crowd and attacked American Alpha.

Jinder Mahal is now part of Smackdown Live who lost to Mojo Rawley after doing another angle with New England Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski who was sitting front row. Gronk tossed a beer at Mahal in return as Mahal did the same to Gronk at WrestleMania 33.

WWE also showed a pair of graphics announcing the arrivals of both Rusev and Sin Cara to the Smackdown Live roster.

In the show WWE later aired a “Coming Soon” video for Lana who is also joining the Smackdown Live roster and appears to be getting repackaged?

WWE also aired a video packed for ‘The New Day’ which says ‘Coming Soon’ who are also joining the Smackdown Live roster.

My thoughts on the Superstar Shakeup for Smackdown Live

The addition of Kevin Owens on Smackdown Live is excellent as his first program will be against A.J. Styles who is staying on Smackdown. Their feud and matches will be excellent. Don’t mind Styles being in the US Title program because the WWE championship program is in a holding pattern with Randy Orton facing Bray Wyatt at WWE Payback in a ‘House of Horror’ match.

After the feud with Orton and Wyatt ends it will be interesting to see who Orton faces next for the WWE title or if Brock Lesnar appear on Smackdown Live with the WWE Universal title.

Also really like that Shinsuke Nakamura’s first program is against Dolph Ziggler as Nakamura will get the chance to showcase all his moves and is already completely over with the crowd and treated like a superstar.

Really like the addition of Charlotte as she can elevate the Smackdown Live Women’s Division and have terrific matches with Naomi, Becky Lynch and Natalya. Also like the addition of the New Day as they can freshen up the Smackdown Live tag division. Interested to see what WWE does with both The Shining Stars and Jinder Mahal on Smackdown Live.

Overall:

Really like how Smackdown Live has come out after the Superstar Shakeup as I look forward to continue watching Smackdown every week to see how the storyline progress. Smackdown Live was a thumbs up show.

We are officially on the road to WrestleManiaas WWE Fast Lane took place from the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Below are the results from the RAW exclusive PPV Fast Lane.

Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn

Joe took control early on in the match as he worked on the legs of Zayn and applied a key lock. Zayn fired up and made his comeback by delivering an impressive Blue Thunder Bomb. Joe recovered and landed a boot then followed up with a senton for a two count. Joe continues the attack with straight jab as Zayn falls to the mat but played possum and caught Joe with an inside cradle.

Finish comes with Zayn coming off the top turnbuckle attempting a Helluva kick but Joe countered by delivering a uranage. Joe applies the kokina clutch and submits Zayn.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Not a show-stealing match but a good match to open the show. Smart booking which made Joe look very strong heading into WrestleMania.

RAW Tag Titles: Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs. Enzo & Big Cass

Highlights include Cass press slamming Enzo onto Anderson and Gallows on the floor. Anderson catches Enzo with a bicycle and the running boot of doom. Enzo finally tags in Big Cass and delivers a stinger splashes to Anderson. Cass hits the Empire Elbow to Anderson and then sends Gallows off the apron with a big boot.

Finish comes with Cass and Enzo deliver the Bada Boom Shaka Laka to Anderson but Gallows makes the save. Anderson delivers a knee to Enzo and gets the win. Enzo had his foot on the bottom rope but Gallows knocks it off right at the count of three.

Winner: Anderson & Gallows retain Raw tag team titles.

Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax

As expected Jax took control of Banks early on in the match. Banks jumps on the back of Jax and applies a rear-naked choke but Jax counters by running her into the corner. The crowds energy picks up went Banks dropped Jax and applied a Bank Statement for a submission tease but Jax powers out.

Finish comes with Jax recovering and delivering a leg drop to the back of Banks. Jax lifts her up but Banks countered with a O’Conor roll and gets the win.

Winner: Sasha Banks

During the WWE Fast Lane pre-show tag team partners Rusev and Jinder Mahal argued backstage. Raw General Manager Mick Foley said both Rusev and Mahal will have single matches.

Cesaro vs. Jinder Mahal

Highlights came with Cesaro delivering the the Swiss-1–9 and a high cross for a two-count. Finish came with Mahal getting distracted with Rusev on the floor as Cesaro recovered pressed Mahal into the air and delivered an uppercut for the win.

Winner: Cesaro

Big Show vs. Rusev

Big Show delivered three choke slams to Rusev as the crowd cheered. Big Show finished Rusev off with a Knockout punch.

Winner: Big Show

Austin Aires joined Michael Cole and Corey Graves on commentary for the next match. Before the match, WWE showcased an Austin Aires highlight package.

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Neville vs. Jack Gallagher

Highlights include Neville delivering a missile dropkick to Gallagher. Gallagher came back and delivered a belly-to-back suplex from the top.

Neville came back with his own snap German suplex to Gallagher. Neville delivered a Phoenix splash off the second turnbuckle for a near fall. Gallagher recovered and delivered two big head butts for a near fall.

Finish came with Neville delivering a superkick to Gallagher at the edge of the apron, but Gallagher recovers and delivers another head butt. Neville delivers a suplex to Gallagher off the top and finishes him off with the Red Arrow.

Winner: Neville retains the WWE Cruiserweight title.

A very good match as the crowd was energetic for this match.

The New Day come out with a mini freezer with New Day Pops as Big E began to sing Randy Orton’s theme song. New Day basically came out to build hype and to promote that they will have ice cream at WrestleMania.

Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman

Highlights include Stroman controlling Reigns early on in the match with a rear chin lock. Both men fight on the floor as Reigns sends Strowman into the post. Strowman recovers and counters the Drive By and sends Reigns into the post.

Reigns recovers and delivers the Drive By, then sprints to Strowman but is caught as Strowman powerslams Reigns through the announcer’s desk as the crowd picked up. Both men return to the ring as Reigns delivers the spear but Strowman kicked out. Reigns then delivers a pair of superman punches and then went for the spear but runs right into Strowman’s fist.

Finish comes with Stroman going for a splash off the top rope but missed as Reigns delivered a spear for the win.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Mick Foley caught up with Samoa Joe backstage and asked him not to interfere in the WWE Universal Championship match between Kevin Owens and Bill Goldberg.

WWE Raw Women’s Championship Match: Bayley vs. Charlotte

Highlights include Bayley going for a Bayley-to-belly suplex early on in the match but Charlotte countered by grabbing the ropes. Charlotte recovers by delivering a moonsault and a senton for a two count.

Bayley recovers by delivering a belly-to-back suplex then follows up with a top rope huracanrana and follows that up with a top rope elbow drop but Charlotte kicks out. Charlotte recovers by delivering the Natural Selection but Bayley kicks out.

Charlotte then tossed Bayley to the floor. Charlotte climbed to the top rope but Sasha ran down to ringside and stopped her. Bayley delivered a Bayley-to-belly to Charlotte on the outside.

Finish came with Charlotte hooking the tights of Bayley but Banks yelled at the referee to stop the count. Bayley delivered the Bayley-to-belly suplex for the win and ends Charlotte’s undefeated streak in PPV matches.

Winner: Bayley retains the WWE Raw Women’s championship

Was a good match that had a very flat finish and not a great way to end Charlotte’s undefeated streak in PPV matches.

WWE Universal Championship Match: Kevin Owens vs. Bill Goldberg

The WWE Universe was cheering very loudly for Goldberg during his entrance and introduction. Before the match began Owens exits the rings and continues to stalls by ringside.

Owens enters the ring but right before the match begins Chris Jericho’s music hits for a huge reaction. Owens gets distracted as the bell rings, Goldberg delivers the spears and then hits the jackhammer on Owens for the win.

Winner: Goldberg wins the WWE Universal title.

Overall: It was a decent show as Goldberg looked strong heading into his match with Brock Lesnar. WWE also booked Reigns and Joe look quite strong heading into WrestleMania.

After watching tonights episode of WWE Roadblock: End of the Line PPV it seemed like I was watching just another episode of Monday Night Raw with longer matches. Simply put this show had only one objective to set up rivalries and feuds for the Royal Rumble which starts of the kickoff to WrestleMania. So without wasting anymore time here are my ups and downs coming out of WWE Roadblock: End of the Line.

Some highlights in the match included Owens landing a pair of frog splashes to Reigns on the outside which caused the announce table to break. Reigns ended up breaking the referees ‘10’ count but Owens nailed a third frog splash but Reigns kick-out again. Owens nailed a pop-up powerbomb on Reigns but snuck his foot on the bottom rope. Reigns nailed Owens with a spear which led to Chris Jericho coming down to the ring. Jericho nailed Owens with a codebreaker for the dq.

The fans did cheer as Jericho and Owens are united again. But what took place post match was more interesting as Owens speared Reigns on the outside, as Rollins nailed Jericho with a pedigree. Reigns and Rollins delivered The Shield powerbomb to Jericho through the announce table. Then caught Owens who was limping away, and delivered The Shield powerbomb to Owens through the announce table.

Banks and Charlotte delivered yet another terrific match. Early on in the match Banks went for the Bank Statement but Charlotte escaped. Banks tossed Charlotte to the outside and nailed a suicide dive. Charlotte kicked Banks leg on the apron as she crashed face first on the steel steps.

Charlotte nailed Banks with the Natural Selection but Banks kicked out. Banks tried to stop Charlotte on the top turnbuckle, but fought her off and nailed the Natural Selection from the top and pins Banks around the 19:00 minute mark for the first fall.

Soon after that Banks cradled up Charlotte and got the pin and tied up the match 1–1 around the 8:00 minute mark. Later on in the match Charlotte misses a moonsault of the top turnbuckle as Banks capitalizes and locks in the Bank Statement. Charlotte tapped out as Banks is now up 2–1 with 6:00 minutes remaining.

Charlotte came down with her knee on to Banks knee. As a great heel Charlotte worked on Banks knee and locked in the figure-four then transitions into the Figure 8 leg lock as Banks is forced to tap out with just 0:02 seconds left. It was announced that the match would go into overtime as Charlotte attacked Banks before OT began.

Banks nailed Charlotte with a backbreaker, sells the knee injury then applies the Bank Statement. Banks mouth got busted open from a shot to the mouth and was bleeding heavily. While in the Bank Statement, Charlotte nicely transitioned into the figure-four. Charlotte then turned the figure-four into a Figure 8 leg lock as Banks tapped out in OT.

Banks and Charlotte have raised the bar to the next level in the women’s division. Not a fan of the Raw Women’s Championship getting swapped as Roadblock: End of the Line looked to conclude this great feud as Charlotte is now a 4x Women’s champion.

Seth Rollins def. Chris Jericho.

Highlights in the match included Rollins going for a springboard but Jericho caught him with a dropkick as Rollins was sent tumbling to the ground. Rollins attempted a pedigree but was blocked by Jericho who then went for the Walls of Jericho but Rollins countered. Jericho side-stepped a springboard flying knee and applies the Walls of Jericho as Rollins made it to the bottom rope. Rollins then went for a frog-splash but missed as Jericho nailed the lionsault but Rollins kicked out.

Owens ran down ringside but Rollins fought him off, Jericho rolled up Rollins and had the match won but the ref was distracted by Owens. Jericho started to yell at Owens, then attempted a codebreaker but Rollins countered into a pedigree and got the win.

Both Rollins and Jericho put on a great match and Owens interference added more to a potential match with Y2J in the coming months. Rollins winning was the right decision as it leads him to closer to facing Triple H most likely at WrestleMania.

Raw Tag-Team Championship: Cesaro & Sheamus def. The New Day

Highlighted included Cesaro pressing Kingston in the air and lands an uppercut in mid-air for a two-count. Kingston tags in Big E. and spears Sheamus off the apron to the floor. Cesaro swings Kingston then transitions into a sharpshooter. Sheamus tagged himself in, as Xavier Woods shoved Kingston out of the way and took the Brogue kick, Kingston then connected with the S.O.S. but Sheamus kicked out.

Ending came when Sheamus went for the tag, but Cesaro moved his hand so Sheamus never tagged in, Cesaro went for Kingston which led to Sheamus rolling up Kingston for the win ending the New Day tag-team championship reign. Good match by both teams who have great chemistry together. Interested to see what happens on Raw.

Crowd was completely out of this match as the cruiserweight division hasn’t connected with the Raw crowd like the CWC did on the WWE Network. Highlight in the match was Kendrick applying the Captain’s Hook to Swann. Perkins stops the submission and puts Kendrick into the knee bar and Swann splashes Perkins to break his submission. In the end Swann landed the the spinning wheel kick on Perkins and got the win.

After the match, Neville music played as he came down to the ring and attacked both Perkins and Swann . After Neville laid out both Perkins and Swann the crowd chanted “Thank You Neville” It’s clear that Neville is now the main heel in the cruiserweight division while Austin Aires is out out action due to injury.

Sami Zayn def. Braun Strowman

There was a strict 10-minute time limit for the match as WWE was playing up the underdog story with Zayn. Strowman was in complete control of the match and had a chance to win the match but stopped the pin. Raw GM Mick Foley came down to the ring with a towel in hand as the crowd chanted “Delete” Strowman charged into Zayn but got crashed into the ring post. Strowman charged again but crashed through the barricade. Ending came when Zayn connected with a crossbody off the top but Strowman powered out. Zayn returns and nailed the Helluva kick as time expires and Zayn was declared the winner by lasting 10:00.

Overall

Like I said earlier this PPV seemed like another episode of Raw which had some great matches and performances. With Banks feud apparently done let’s see where Charlotte goes from here most likely into a feud with Bayley which will happen at WrestleMania? What happens to The New Day now and does WWE hold off on the Jericho and Owens match till WrestleMania?